Initiation apparatus



2 Sheds-Sheet 1 mvsm'on ATTORNEY .1 w A A W N v K A A \M /////w y 7/ April 6 1926. a;

A. J. HASBROUCK INITIATION APPARATUS Filed June 25. 1924 [Z Jjwzmm wrruzss= April 6 1926.

- A. J. HASBROUCK' INITIATION APPARATUS Filed June 23. 1924 2 sheets-she 2 ///Y///////V/// v INVE'NTOR ATTORNEY .WITNESS:

Patched Apr. 6, 1 926. r

UNITED STATES PATENT I-OFFIICEQ ARTHUR I. HASBROUCK? or ermonnrnmiowA,

i INI'IIA'IION AIPARATUSL Application filed. June 23, 1924. Serial No. 721,859.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I ARTHUR J. HAS' from the following description and claims when the same a-re read'in' connection with the drawings, forming part of this specifi cation, in which 2- Figure 1 is atop plan view illustrating my novel apparatus in set state and as it appears when the cover of the casing is open. Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the apparatus in set state and also showing the cover ofthe casing in closed position. 4 Y Figure 3 is a view like Figure l but with the parts in the positions'they assume after the'apparatus is sprung: r

Figure 4 is a perspective of the apparatus on a reduced scale.

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken in the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 1 not showing the casing cover "closed.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in, all of the views of the drawings. I

Among other 'elementsmy novel apparatus comprises a casing body 1 to which is hingedly connected at 2' a cover 3, said cover being adapted to be detachably se cured in closed position by'hooks a or other appropriate means. At theto'p of the cover 3 are: provided longitudinal ribs 5 and 6,

the ribs 6 being comparatively short and being arranged" at opposite sides of an openingin the cover and through which. is adapted to be dropped a heavy ball 8 of steel or any other. appropriate material. Waniffestly when ablindfoldedecandidate for initiation manipulates the ball. 8- between the ribs'G until the ba ll'is'coin cident with theopening the; ball will drop through detainees-re ent.-

IVithin the casing body are two compressible bulbs 9. adapted to be charged with water orany other appropriate fluid. The said'bulbs -9 are provided with nozzles 10 Which-extend through and are carried by I the cover3; 7 From this it follows that when the cover is-open the bulbs 9 will be-lifted out of the-casing body 1, and-it also follows that through said nozzles; 10 the bulbs may be expeditiously and easily charged with liquid. WVhen the cover 3 is closedthe said [bulbs- 9 rest against opposite end walls" of the casing-body 1, 'and'ad'jacent to the worklng position of one of the bulbs 9 is ar- ,i-anged a solid abutment ll which-is'fixed to the bottom of the casing body and is'p-referably formed of steel or otherappropriate material. Alsofixed to the bottom ofthe "casing body 1 and spaced fromthe abut ment 11 is a holder 12 for blankcartridges '13, Figures 2 and 5. In this connection I wouldhave it understood that; the abutment 11 is provided opposite the cartridge holder.

dent to the operation of my apparatus.

"Appropriately guided onthe bottom of? the casing body 1' is a longitudinalcentral rectilinea'rly movable plunger 14, said 'plungq er: 14 having firing pins 15 at its'fo'rward end;

recess for the engagement of one end of a trigger'lever 17 which is fulcrumed at 18 and isa'dapted: whenthe apparatus is set to have its upper end test under the aperture 7"- A retractilespring- 19 is-=interp'osed between connected tethe plunger la'and the casingb'ody 1, Figures 1- and 3, and when theapparatus is setas shown in Figures 1 and '2'it will be manifest that thesaid spring 19' will-be, tfensioned. Therefore, wlie'n the 'The plunger l t is'provided at 16 with av lever 17 is roc'lred the: weight of the: ball '8 and the: plunger 14 s -releasedi and the plunger i em be powerful'ly impelled torweirdly with the i-esult that the; tire pins 15 will explode the cartridges 18. This--1nani- .tes ywiill be calculated to 'startle. the candiain hold s ar-swam; their laps and because tion will afford lookers.

In the practical use of my novel apparatus I prefer that the candidates be located in chairs opposite each other with the ends of the casing body on their laps, this in order that jets of water may be thrown in the faces of the candidates co-incident with the exploding of the cartridges 13.

To the end indicated I provide for compression with the bulbs 9 two swinging pressers 20, hinged at 21 to the casing body. These pressers are connected at 22 to appropriately guided cables 23 which, in turn, are connected to the ends of a rctractile spring 24, extending longitudinally of the apparatus as best shown in Figures 3 and 4:. Manifestly when the pressers 20 are swung inwardly or away from the bulbs 9, the spring 24 will be put under tension, and when the pressers are suddenly released the spring 24 will suddenly contract and crowd the pressers 20 against the bulbs 9 with the result that the latter will be compressed and water will be ejected suddenly therefrom. For the purpose of retaining the pressers in the positions shown in Figure 1 until the plunger 14: is released I provide the mechof their likely consternagreat amusement to onanism best shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thismechanism comprises rods and 31 loosely connected at their outer ends to the pr-essers 20 and having hooks 31 at their inner ends, and a T-shaped keeper 32 having flanges 33 at the ends of its head for the engagement of the hooks 31 after the manner shown in Figure 2. The stem of the T-shaped keeper 32, which is pivoted at 34, is arranged in the path of a lateral projection 35 on the plunger le, and consequently it will be understood that when the plunger lt is released and is manipulated toward the rod from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the projections 35 will swing the keeper 32 out of engagement with the rods 30 so as to release the said rods, whereupon the pressers 20 under the action of the spring 24 will suddenly compress the bulbs 9 for the purpose before stated.

I prefer to provide the casing body 1 in one of its side walls with an opening controlled by a hinged door/i0 made up of a frame and reticulated material 41 in the frame. The said door tl will permit of the emission of smoke and sound from the interior of the casing, and will also permit an attendant to reach into the casing for the purpose of adjusting some of the parts when necessary. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the said opening and door inasmuch as the same may be altogether omitted without affecting my invention.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that notwithstanding the practical advaninasmuch as the scope of my invention is defined by my claims and ithin the said claims changes or modifications may be made without involving departure from the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent,

1. In an initiation apparatus, the combination of a casing having an opening in one of its walls, a cartridge holder in the casing, a plunger guided in the casing and provided with a firing pin, a spring for impelling said plunger toward the cartridge holder, amovable keeper detachably engaged with the plunger to prevent movement thereof under the action of the spring and having a free end arranged opposite said opening and a weighted object adapted to be passed through said opening to contact the free end of said keeper for releasing the same. 7

2. In an initiation apparatus, the combination of a casing having an opening centrally arranged in its top wall, a cartridge holder in the casing, a plunger guided in the casing and provided with a firing pin, a spring for impelling said plunger toward the cartridge holder, a movable keeper detachably engaged with the plunger to prevent movement thereof under the action of the spring and having a portion arranged opposite said opening; the said keeper being in the form of a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point in its length, and the said plunger being provided with a portion for the engagement of the heel end of said lever, a weighted ball adapted to be passed through said opening to contact said keeper for releasing the same and guiding means for said ball. arranged on the top of said casing.

3. An initiation apparatus of the charac ter described comprising a casing including a hinged cover formed with an opening centrally disposed therein, compressible bulbs one arranged at each end of said casing and each having an orifice arranged to discharge exteriorly of the casing and through the hinged cover, swinging pressers adapted to compress said bulbs, cables guided in said leasing and each having connection with one of said pressers, a spring for each cable and having the opposite ends thereof fixed in said casing whereby the swinging pressers are retained in normal position, a swinging T-shaped keeper having upturned flanges arranged thereon, rods having one of then ends connected to the swinging presser and the opposite end detaohably engaged with two of said flanges aspring actuated plunger mounted for sliding movement in said casing, an abutment projecting from said plunger, and a movable keeper having one end detachably engaged with the plunger to normally hold it against movement by said spring last mentioned; and means adaptedto strike the opposite end of said keeper for releasing said plunger whereby the abutment thereof will engage 15 the T-shaped keeper for swinging the latter in a horizontal plane so as to release the rods therefrom. v V

v In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR J. HASBROUCK. 

